The Sacramento Sheriff's Department released more information on Friday about the shootout at a Pep Boys automotive store in Rancho Cordova on Monday that ended with one deputy dead and a second wounded.
Sheriff's officials say suspect, Anton Lemon Moore, began shooting almost the moment deputies entered the store. They were answering a call about an irate customer.
Sheriff Scott Jones says Moore first shot a store clerk in the back and then turned his gun on Deputy Mark Stasyuk. Jones says Stasyuk was hit in the back as he tried to take cover outside the store.
“He continued on out here into the parking lot to try and get a place of cover where he could return fire,” Jones said during the press conference.
The suspect exited the building, but he did not try to escape the deputies. “Instead of taking the opportunity to flee in either direction, he followed Deputy Stasyuk into the parking lot, continuing to fire at his back and struck him one time in the back of the head,” Jones said.
Stasyuk died instantly.
Moore still didn't leave the area. He went back and exchanged gunfire with Deputy Julie Robertson, who Jones says was hit in the arm while protecting herself and store employees.
Sgt. Tony Turnbull says Robertson could have retreated, but chose to fire back.
"She had piece of mind to protect the employees inside the store. What she did was nothing less than heroic, I can tell you that,” Turnbull said. “She never wavered. She continued stayed in the fight."
Moore was apprehended a short distance away after exchanging gunshots with additional deputies — and, despite being shot, Jones says Moore still wouldn't surrender.
Robertson was released from the hospital this week along with the store clerk. Jones says Robertson should be back at work in the next week. Moore remains hospitalized in stable condition.
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